1932 Ford -The Other Deuces

'32 Fords You Never Knew Existed

Those who have studied the ’32 Ford might be aware that for some long-lost reason Ford chose to build different Tudors and Fordors for the British and European markets. While these sedans shared the grille and front fenders with their American counterparts, from there back they were quite different, having suicide front doors and boxy bodies not unlike the preceding Model A. They were nowhere near as attractive as the American sedans, and for the most part, the sporty roadster was not imported. That might explain why the Europeans, the Brits and Germans in particular, chopped up their Deuces to build what they called “specials.”

Ironically, the first, and arguably the most beautiful, special-bodied ’32 was built for Henry Ford’s son, Edsel. Designed by E. T. “Bob” Gregorie, it became know as the “Gregorie Roadster” and featured a grille that tapered out to the front of the splash apron, a boat-type split windshield, twin cowl vents set into an extended hood, no running boards, and swept-back, skirted fenders. The aluminum body was built in the service department at Ford’s old aircraft factory by skilled aluminum craftsmen (Edsel had also set up Gregorie there as Ford’s first unofficial designer). These men beat the body out of aluminum and made fenders from modified Ford Tri-Motor wheel spats. Finished at the Lincoln Plant, the car was painted black, had chrome bullet-shaped headlights, disc wheel covers, oversize spoke wheels, no top, suicide doors, and no exterior door handles-quite a hot rod.

Edsel drove the car for a while before concluding it wasn’t exactly what he had in mind in his search for a “continental” sports car, and in 1934 it was sold to Elmer Benzin who later sold it to a young GM designer who promptly totaled it. It has not been seen since. Meanwhile, in Europe, the Brits and Germans were cutting the heck out of what ’32 Fords they could get their hands on.